When You Pray

Matthew 6: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full.

When you pray

Not if you pray.

When - It is an assumption from Jesus that all are praying.
You - Others can’t do your praying for you
Pray – What is prayer?

This will be our theme for a few weeks “What is Prayer”

Do not be like the hypocrites

Actors, making a show, no real substance to the prayer.
No faith just words.

They love to be seen by men

They have received their reward in full. The prayer show is all they will get.
We cannot be surprised when no answer comes.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Is God against public prayer? No!
Something happens when we are alone at home (our room), we get real!

Ever see a bunch of young men standing around and then a pretty girl walk into the room? Same thing. Out come the masks and the show and trying to impress one another.

Pray to your Father.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

What could we classify as babbling? Empty, vain repetitions. Formulas, prayers from others…many words.

Old, traditional sounding (King James) pasted on talk. Unnatural, therefore not real.
Many words

they think they will be heard because of their many words
Flood heaven with words…

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Your Father knows - They must think that God is far away and uninterested in us. -
What you need - They must think that they must inform God about the problem.
Before you ask him – Father, HELP ME!

Sharing with God Prayers

Informational prayers - Father there is a man named… and he needs…

Does God need the information, explanation, clarification?
God knows but do we? Do we really know what we need anyway?

* God please do this…but really something else needs done. So God does what we ask, but we still die because we needed something else.?!

Sharing with others Prayers

Teaching prayers - Father we know that …people should know that…
Talking prayers – some people use the opportunity to say something that they believe about something.
Hey I am here prayers – v5: to be seen by men

Pray with Simplicity

“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply… MSG

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 (It’s you who) Give us today our daily bread. 12 (It’s you who) Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And (You) lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ NIV

“This, then, is how you should pray: - not word for word, but a guideline for us.

“‘Our Father in heaven

Our – He is the uniting factor for us all Father* – Not boss, much more
In Heaven – where? He is always above us, not our buddy…

Hallowed be your name - your name is so important I will reverence it.

Your name represents you, so is God represented by his name.
He is as good as his name and his name is as good as he is.

How do we use his name?
Do we take his name in vain. What does that mean?

Is he the one who damns?

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Your Kingdom – His kingdom is where he is King.
Your Will – How can we pray this if we don’t know it?

1 John 5: 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. NIV

Submission to his will is a given to be able to pray with any confidence.
An attitude to receive what he gives us.

When I am declaring his will I am asking

A sign says: We would like to bless everyone that attends with a piece of cake. You come to the counter and either ask for a piece of cake or you say “The sign said we would receive a piece of cake, where can I find it?”

(It’s you who) Give us today our daily bread.

recognition of who is our provider (It’s you who) *Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. –
We are recognizing the need to give and receive forgiveness.

(You) lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Evil does not come from God – how can we pray if we believe that evil is his will?
He is always the deliverer

Matthew 6: 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. NIV

Is there un-forgiveness in our hearts today?

There are Different kinds of Prayer

Foundation of True Prayer

Jude 1: 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. NIV

The characteristic of true prayer—“In the Holy Ghost.”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit has to be understood in order to pray in the Holy Spirit. Teacher, revealer, empowerer, love giver, comforter, worshiper, empower prayer, fire, water…

The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven’s storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord’s arrows back to him. That desire which he writes upon our heart will move his heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with him.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in fervency. Cold prayers ask the Lord not to hear them. Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not at all. As well speak of lukewarm fire as of lukewarm prayer—it is essential that it be red hot. It is praying perseveringly. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love—love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ. Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God’s promise.

Tempted in Prayer

Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. NIV

Prayer is a time when the enemy comes to stop us, if he can’t stop us he will tempt us to pray wrong.

“If you are the Son of God… Doubts and fears is what he comes with to cripple our prayed life. If God is really:

Powerful to provide
Powerful to deliver
Powerful to satisfy

“If you are the(a)Son of God,”

Miracles were to confirm the word, not your identity.

‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Priorities in Prayer

My substance as main focus vs.
God give me your word, not just your written word but your spoken word for the day, fresh manna. Obedience (pray for help to obey)

Do you believe that God speaks to us today?

Only through his word?
Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice.”
What was your last conversation? What did he say?

‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Don’t desire and pray for things that are not his way and will

His way

“Throw yourself down. (down the path of destruction)

Being self destructive and asking God to compensate, fix what I broke. * What are some examples?

Commission: Smoking, drinking, overeating, no exercise, drugs, sexual sins…
Omission: not praying, not studying the word, not obeying, not working, not sowing (farmer wanting a harvest anyway)…

His will

For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Using the word of God to get my way and my will done.

This drives me crazy when I hear the word of God that is meant for doing the will of God twisted to some selfish purpose.

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Chasing the God of Mammon by loving the world (selling your soul to the devil)

This is worshiping him.
Jesus said Worship and serve

Who you serve is who you worship and who you worship is who you serve. It is impossible to separate the two.
You cannot serve two masters; you will love the one…

Pray that you will not fall into temptation

Last week we shared about some of the temptations that come during prayer. This week we will continue with this idea.

Luke 22: 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” NIV

What was the temptation during Prayer?

The Temptation to ask for supernatural rescue from God’s planned course and will.

If you are will, if you have another way…It is natural to not want to go through the valley of the shadow of death
We should pray deliver me from evil, but many are really praying deliver me from your will!
Often we are praying for a breakout when we need a breakthrough. Difference being God wants us to go through it victoriously and we want out.

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

The temptations to do my own will, not his.

All other temptations stem from this one. Is my will surrendered to his? If not then whatever the enemy offers me that appeals to me (even a piece of fruit) I will be tempted to take it.

Like Adam and Eve it could be something for self improvement too.
Temptation#1 “What about me?” (basis is the belief that ”God doesn’t care about me”

People who serve others (ministers, teachers, missionaries) are highly susceptible to this one. (I gave up, I did, I…)
Other Christians are doing better, see the world prospers, others can…)
We can even base it on the right to have such things (1Cor.9:4-14)

All other temptations will follow if we fall to this one.

When I decide to do his will:

His decision to do the will of the Father instigated the sending of an angel to help him. * This strength was enough to resist even unto blood.

The temptation to fall asleep

Get up and Pray…Don’t fall asleep 45b…He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 *“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Is he against sleep/rest?

Sleep: a symbol of laziness, a symbol of being in darkness, a symbol of being dead. A state of stupor.

1 Peter 5: 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. NIV

Jesus is the resurrection and the life of dead, asleep purpose and destinies.

How?

First pray the same prayer he did.

Father not my will but yours be done. * Expect supernatural help to go through life’s situations.

Communion - Lord you stayed your course, help me to do the same, Lord help me to be

Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Luke 6: 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated, apostles: NIV

Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

· A place alone

o We have to be able to find a place that is quiet, away from the turmoil of this life.

o A place of reality and truth.

· All night

o Why the length of time? An hour, all night? Fanaticism, why so long?

Maybe the urgency of his situation.

He was under constant attack, accusation, misunderstood…

He had need of encouragement (David at Ziklag)
He had need power and strength
Often these are the times when we pray, when we have great need.

Maybe the depth of his dependency

His task was unbelievable, what he had to do and decide.

Can you imagine that every word you spoke and every thing you did was going to be weighed and copied and preached and …

The responsibility to choose the right people that will represent the kingdom of God and work along side you?

Matthew 9: 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask (Pray to) the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” NIV

· I would dare to say this is probably the least prayed prayer by Christians. (Maybe by Pastors etc...)

Maybe the depth of his love for his Father.

I wonder if God only wants us to spent time with him for the works sake, for the needs that we have.

Can you imagine the loneliness, the homesickness because of his separation from his Father?

He left all to be here. * No one could really relate to him.

Easter morning was our day but the day of the ascension must have been an exciting day for Jesus.

Have you ever been away from loved one, country?

Eleven years away for me, what excitement…

John 17: 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world begun. NIV

· Are we excited about going home? (Heaven)

o One line in the film we saw (End of the spear) “Son we can’t kill the Waodani they aren’t ready for Heaven, we are. Of course we would say like Paul if we were given the choice “I don’t know what I will choose, to leave and be with Christ or stay which is better for you”

I encourage you to develop a prayer life that will strengthen you for the daily battles, that will give you the sense and understanding of the eternal difference you are here to make and lastly to pray to nurture your relationship with the Father so that going to heaven is a joy to look forward to, not something many see as a punishment.

Always pray and not give up

Luke 18: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town that kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” NIV

· Prayer is persistent

o What about a solution? Why?

§ Injustice is Persistent too. Is it hard to believe and understand that there are things that will ALWAYS be with us? Poor, sick, widow, prisoner…

· We live in a fallen world.

§ Are we a solution oriented people? Do we need a beginning and an end in every situation? Do we only care about things we can change?

· Do we pattern our lives after Hollywood TV and movies?

o We have to understand the whole problem, find the hero, experience the solution and find the happy ending all In 30 min. to 2 hours?

Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

· Grant me justice against my adversary

o Not only personal justice from our personal enemies but

§ Justice for the causes that we have made our own (which are God’s)

§ Adversaries: Has the injustices of the world become our own?

· Abortion, poverty Injustice, need, weakness, persecution…

· Are our prayers as persistent as the injustices?

ABORTION WORLDWIDE

Number of abortions per year: Approximately 46 Million

Number of abortions per day: Approximately 126,000 (5250 hr)

Estimated legal abortions worldwide: 527M to 836M (1920-2000)

We can’t even get into the methods that are used.

Violence and Child abuse Worldwide

Almost 53,000 children died worldwide in 2002 as a result of homicide.

150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence during 2002.

Between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world have undergone some form of female genital mutilation/cutting. In sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt and the Sudan, 3 million girls and women are subjected to genital mutilation/cutting every year.

In 2004, 218 million children were involved in child labor, of which 126 million were in hazardous work.

Prison population statistics Worldwide

As of 2006, it is estimated that at least nine million people are currently imprisoned worldwide. It is believed that this number is likely to be much higher, in view of general under-reporting and a lack of data from various countries, especially authoritarian regimes. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the prison population in most countries has increased significantly.

In absolute terms, the United States currently has the largest inmate population in the world, with more than 2 million in prison and jails. In 2002, both Russia and China also had prison populations in excess of 1 million.

AIDS Worldwide

During 2005 around four million adults and children became infected with HIV. By the end of the year, an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS. The year also saw around three million deaths from AIDS. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

POVERTY AND ILLITERACY

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.

“Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished, almost two-thirds of whom reside in Asia and the Pacific.

According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. That is about 210,000 children each week or just under 11 million children under five years of age, each year.

“Today, across the world, 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day; 3 billion live on under two dollars a day; 1.3 billion have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to electricity.”

Food production has increased faster than population growth, food is there, and money is there but the hearts have not grown.

what was estimated as additional costs to achieve universal access to basic social services in all developing countries:

Global Priority $U.S. Billions

Basic education for all 6

Water and sanitation for all 9

Reproductive health for all women 12

Basic health and nutrition 13 = 40

And compare that to

Global Priority $U.S. Billions

Cosmetics in the United States 8

Ice cream in Europe 11

Perfumes in Europe and the United States 12

Pet foods in Europe and the United States 17

Business entertainment in Japan 35

Cigarettes in Europe 50

Alcoholic drinks in Europe 105

Narcotics drugs in the world 400

Military spending in the world 780

· when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth

o Prayer is an expression of Faith

§ Faith grows stronger by its consistent application to the problems.

“By what power or what name did you do this?”

Acts 3: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ 24 “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” NIV

Acts 4: The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

(Acts 5:40) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. NIV

John 16: 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. NIV

Philippians 2: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NIV

Acts 19: 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. NIV

Hebrews 1: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. NIV

By what name - Praying in the name of Jesus

By what Power - They were with the Lord! (authority or power?)

Matthew 21: 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” NIV

Matthew 21: 21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. NIV

If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer

If you believe
if you have faith and do not doubt

Makes me want to cry. If I believed enough * What is faith? Believing?

John 5: 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

We are not the source of faith, it comes from God. It is a result of a relationship and what is transferred through this relationship. Actions and words. When we look at the life of Jesus we can see what the Father wants us to do. (The disciples said “Show us the Father” Jesus said “If you have seen me you have seen the Father”)

23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life…

Hears the word - Romans 10: 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV

We hear the word and many times we choose to believe the word or do we believe the one who spoke the word?

Don’t misunderstand me, I love the word, but the word came from someone, if I don’t love him who spoke the word, I cannot have faith.

Galatians 5: 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. NIV

37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 “I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? 45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” NIV

1Cor. 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But one God, the Father,

Source: From whom all things came
Purpose: For whom we live

If we do not live for him, we cannot believe.

But one Lord, Jesus Christ,

Course from God: Through whom all things came
Course to God: Through whom we live.

All things come for us from the Father through Jesus.

We live for the Father through Jesus.